Indonesian
Contents
Introduction
The Indonesian Language and Studies Program was established in 1990 and has grown to become the largest distance learning provider for Indonesian language and culture in Australia. The Discipline also has internal on-campus student body enjoying high-quality facilities and lifestyle. We pride ourselves in our use of modern teaching technology and the quality of our research.
Indonesian Language and Studies currently have two permanent staff members, Dr Zifirdaus Adnan and Mr Stephen Miller, see contact details below.
Dr Adnan has two main research interests, Applied Linguistics (Discourse Analysis, Second Language Acquisition) and Islam and politics in Indonesia. He and his co-author (Indrawati Zifirdaus) have published a book entitled 'Merebut Hati Audiens International (Winning International Audience) (Jakarta: Gramedia, 2005). He is now completing his second book on discourse structure of postgraduate theses. He has also presented numerous research papers in Australia and internationally, and published articles and book chapters. more...
Stephen Miller is completing his PhD on Indonesian Literature, he has also produced papers and publications. more...
Why Study Indonesian?
Indonesian gives you access to one of the most interesting and important areas of the world. Indonesia is spread over more than 13,000 islands and has a population of approximately 240 million. Over 500 languages are spoken in this area, and there are at least as many different ethnic groups. It is the largest Muslim country in the world, but also has significant Christian, Hindu and Buddhist populations. Because of its size and location, it is an important member of the international community. As a travel destination, Indonesia is an enjoyable and affordable place to visit. These days thousands of Australians visit Indonesian regions such as Bali, Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi islands annually, and thousands more live happily in Indonesia despite the Australia Government travel advice.
Indonesia is on Australia's doorstep. As our nearest Asian neighbour, a major trading partner and crucial strategic ally, Indonesia is important for Australia's future.
"When our Government released the landmark Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper in 1997 we identified the relationship with Indonesia as lying at the heart of Australian foreign policy." (Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, in a speech before an ASIALINK Forum, 25 June 1999).
The relationship between the two countries has blossomed recently as reflected in the following quotes. "I am convinced we can take this friendship between Indonesia and Australia far, very far." (Indonesian President). Prime Minister John Howard replies, "President, you come as a true friend. You come to this country as a man I respect and like a great deal." (Interview with Michael Brissenden, ABC 4 April 2005).
Indonesian is easier for beginners than many other languages. For several reasons, it is easy for beginners to reach a general level of competence in Indonesian. It uses a 'phonetic' Latin alphabet, has no tenses or conjugation of verbs, or many of the other grammatical features that can make initial progress in a foreign language difficult, although mastering its affixes may require some extra work at formal higher levels.
Indonesian is a form of Malay (generally, speakers of Indonesian can communicate with Malay speakers), a language spoken in a number of other countries. Malay is also the national language of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. It is also spoken by minority communities in Southern Thailand and other areas of the world.
Why Study Indonesian at UNE?
Indonesian Discipline at UNE is highly experienced in flexible delivery modes. Our students can study both internally and externally. We understand our students’ busy lives, so we accommodate them as much as we possibly can. We have great facilities in the area, we have low student/staff ratios and offer a more personal experience. We rank highly for student satisfaction. We offer a relaxed and friendly environment. Our staff are highly qualified and respected. Graduate career prospects are great. We look after our students well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I study Indonesian from scratch?
A: Yes! In fact our first year programme is designed for absolute beginners.
Q: I did HSC Indonesian/have studied Indonesian before. Where do I fit in?
A: If you have done HSC (or equivalent) in Indonesian, you will start Indonesian at second year level. If you have studied elsewhere, you can get credit and start at a higher level (depending on the extent of your previous study).
Q: Can I study Indonesian at UNE by distance mode?
A: Yes! The majority of our students study through distance mode (externally). We use a variety of resources to help our students learn Indonesian through distance education - texts, CDs, optional residential schools, on-line resources (including interactive chat sessions), amongst others.
Q: Can I become a competent speaker of Indonesian studying by distance mode?
A: Yes! Our on-campus and off-campus students sit the same exams, and there is no difference in standards. Of course, high level fluency can only come through some form of immersion - we recommend that our advanced students take intensive courses in-country, take advantage of the ACICIS programme (see below), or just holiday in Indonesia. We will also be offering In-country summer short (4-6 weeks) courses at the University of Mataram, Lombok from January 2009.
Q: Can I study in Indonesia as part of a UNE degree?
A: Yes! UNE is a member of the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) which runs 6-12 month programmes at the prestigious Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta and the Muhammadiyah University in Malang. UNE also gives credit for recognised short-term programmes (4-6 weeks) in cities such as Padang, Jakarta, Salatiga and Denpasar.
Q: What degrees at UNE allow me to study Indonesian?
A: Many of UNE's degrees allow you to take units in Indonesian. The most common degrees for Indonesian students are the Bachelor of Languages, Arts, Languages and International Business, International Studies, Education and Teaching, the Diploma of Modern Languages and the Graduate Diploma in the Humanities. The Diploma of Modern Languages can be taken concurrently with other degrees, and so allows students to combine a major in Indonesian with virtually any other degree.
Courses
Bachelor degrees
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of International Studies
Bachelor of International Studies (Advanced)
Bachelor of Languages
Bachelor of Languages and International Business
Bachelor Honours
Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Undergraduate Diploma awards
Diploma in Modern Languages
Advanced Diploma in Arts
Postgraduate
Graduate Certificate in Arts
Graduate Diploma in Humanities
Master of Arts
Postgraduate Research
Master of Arts with Honours
Doctor of Philosophy
Units
Indonesian Units
INDN 101 Indonesian Language 1A
INDN 102 Indonesian Language 1B
INDN 201 Indonesian Language 2A
INDN 202 Indonesian Language 2B
INDN 211 Indonesian In-Country Study A
INDN 212 Indonesian In-Country Study B
INDN 301 Indonesian Language 3A
INDN 302 Indonesian Language 3B
INDN 311 Indonesian In-Country Study C
INDN 312 Indonesian In-Country Study D
INDN 315 Contemporary Indonesian Culture
INDN 330/INDN 430 A History of Indonesian and its Role in Society
INDN 331/INDN 431 Reading Indonesian Islamic Texts
INDN 401H Indonesian Hons Coursework
INDN 402H Indonesian Hons Dissertation
INDN 441 Advanced Indonesian Reading Unit
OSLS 391 Overseas Language Study 1
OSLS 392 Overseas Language Study 2
Indonesian Units offered via partner universities
LL 1251 Indonesian in Context (Charles Darwin University)
HMN 304 Indonesian Literature and its Social Context (University of Tasmania)
The Indonesian major for beginning students is:
First year: INDN 101 and INDN 102
Second year: INDN 201 and INDN 202
Third year: INDN 301 and INDN 302
Those with HSC 2 Unit Continuers (or equivalent) should take :
First year: INDN 201 and INDN 202
Second year: INDN 301 and INDN 302
Third year: INDN 401 and INDN 402
Native speakers should take :
First year: INDN 301 and INDN 302
Second year: INDN 341/441 and INDN 342/442
Third year: INDN 401 and INDN 402 and other non-language units to suit their degree structure.
Those with some background knowledge and skills in Indonesian:
Should take a placement test.
Careers
Indonesian can get you a job. There are jobs available for graduates in Indonesian language - in government agencies, in the education sector (Schools), in the Australian Defence Force, Customs and Immigration, in consultancies, Non Governmental Organisations as well as other private companies in Australia and Indonesia.
"Currently a variety of Commonwealth departments and agencies struggle to meet their targets of fluent Indonesian-language graduates. ... government and non-government aid organisations, such as Australian Volunteers International or Peace Brigades International, ... are constantly seeking Indonesian speakers." (Prof. David Hill, the West Australian, 30 September 2004). With the recovery of Indonesia economy (5.97% growth in 2007) and the new law that requires its government to allocate a huge amount of money (20% of its annual budget) for education, more opportunities will exist for Australia to export education services to Indonesia. The law on regional autonomy has given the 33 provincial governments greater opportunity to develop their respective regions and therefore seek goods and services from developed countries like Australia. This means more opportunities for Australians to market their expertise to Indonesia. Skills and expertise in the Indonesian language and culture can play a significant role in facilitating this.
Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links
Australia-Indonesia Institute
Australia Business Council
Asian Studies Association of Australia
Asia Research Centre, UNE
USC
CDU
UTAS
ASILE
Indonesian Internship
www.indonesianinternships.com.au
Interactive maps of Indonesian islands.
http://www.indomap.com/
Homepage of the International Non Government Organisation Forum on Indonesian Development.
http://www.infid.or.id/
Sejarah Indonesia (Indonesian History).
A Timeline from 1500 to 2000.
http://www.gimonca.com/sejarah/index.html
Contacts
For more information about studying Indonesian at UNE, please contact:
Dr Zi Adnan
Convenor of Indonesian
Lecturer (Indonesian)
School of Arts
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351
Australia
Telephone (02) 6773 3516. International: +61 2 6773 3516.
Facsimile (02) 6773 3735. International: +61 2 6773 3735.
email: zadnan@une.edu.au
Stephen Miller
Lecturer in Indonesian
School of Arts
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351
Australia
Telephone (02) 6773 3932. International: +61 2 6773 3932.
Facsimile (02) 6773 3735. International: +61 2 6773 3735.
email: zadnan@une.edu.au
Administrative Assistant for Asian Languages
Helen Creagan
Tel: +61 2 6773 3503
Email: helen.creagan@une.edu.au